For a citizen from a busy metropolis in the country, living a life that only meant a holiday in the weekend to a nearby town or village, a trip to a little town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh was unthinkable!

Tawang or for that matter, the entire Arunachal Pradesh is on the far eastern edge of the country and hence, experiencing a really different culture is quite normal there. The road from Guwahati to Tezpur and then to Tawang is not top class but on reaching this rugged land of Tawang, you shall surely not mind it.

The town of Tawang has many attractions in and surrounding it and of them, the most notable is the Tawang Monastery.

What to expect at Tawang Monastery?

Tawang Monastery (Photo Saurav Goswami)

Get ready for amazing architectural splendor that is Tawang Monastery. The fort-like design of the monastery with its grand Assembly hall, and religious significance makes the place a must-visit. The monastery has borrowed its design after the Potala Palace Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet. The monastery is located at an altitude of over 10,000ft and was built with the grace and blessings of the revered Fifth Dalai Lama. The Monastery is a must-visit and especially between October and March, the monastery courtyard holds religious festivals and dances that draw tourists and photographers from across the world.

Other places to visit in Tawang:

Tawang war memorial (Photo Samir Mehata)

Tawang War Memorial, which was in memory of the brave Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Sino War of 1962 is here paying tribute.

Those who love visiting the frozen lakes of Himalayas and think there cannot be another lake like Pangong Tso of Ladakh, shall also pick their camera and head towards the P.T.Tso Lake. This lake is frozen cold for over 5 months. Those who wish to travel through the Indian Army’s protected area of Bum La Pass shall have to obtain a special permit of PAP.

PT. Tso Lake(Madhuri Lake)

As it is, to enter and travel across Arunachal Pradesh, tourists must require Inner Line Permit or ILP.

More tips to note:

If you love shopping for authentic Arunachal related products, then do not miss out on shopping from Tawang. There are bamboo utensils, which are special of Monpa tribes that shall be ideal souvenirs besides other handicrafts.

Those who love trekking shall take the Jang Falls to Sena Chakra route. En route, you might come across amazing views of lakes and even the famous Tawang Monastery.

Besides Tawang monastery of the Galden Namgey Lhatse, various other monasteries near the town shall fulfill all your spiritual queries and soothe your soul.

For ease of your travel, you can also book a custom Tawang Tour according to your budget and time.

Shortest route to Tawang

Buses and Taxies ply regularly between Tezpur (Assam) and Tawang via Dirang and Bomdila. It takes about 10 hours to reach Tawang from Tezpur.

Nearest Airport of Tawang is also located in Tezpur. It is well connected by flights from Kolkata and Guwahati. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport situated in Guwahati is the nearest International Airport located 547 km away.

In short, the visit to Tawang is must for the adventure-seekers and even those who have always been keen to know more about Buddhism.